>>2682868Most of my outings are backpacking trips, some longer than others. I mostly hike in a subtropical area; we can have rain any time of the year. Summer is unique, with near daily rain showers that are super sporadic throughout the day. During that time, rain is just caused from very humid air blowing in from the Gulf of Mexico and randomly condensing over land as it moves north.
I have a few systems that I use:
>nothingJust get wet. The rain isn’t cold, but just enough to cool you down. You’ll be covered in sweat anyway. Might as well rinse off lol.
>umbrellaGreat in the summer, when there’s little to no wind and you don’t feel like being drenched. A little splash back won’t kill you (it’s minimal anyway)
>running jacket umbrella comboUsed in the spring or fall when temps might warrant an extra layer. Rain during those times can be heavier, with more wind, and are often part of frontal systems.
>Packa or ponchoIt’s never quite cool enough here for a shell jacket, but a non-breathable, 100% waterproof poncho works quite well in our “winter”. The ventilation is a huge advantage in a humid environment. The Packs is a brand of jacket-poncho hybrids that solve many of the issues found with ponchos.
